Bartlett Wrestles With Opening Up Debate On Balefill Strategy

October 04, 1990|By Mike Comerford.

The Bartlett Village Board has gotten itself into a public debate over whether to debate openly or privately the expenditure of $50,000 to fund an alternative site study on a proposed balefill near the village.

The Army Corps of Engineers currently is studying the site selection process for the balefill, and several village officials say a Bartlett-funded study might tip the scales against the balefill.

But the battle widened on Tuesday to include ``the public`s right to know`` when the Village Board became sharply divided over whether the spending of up to $50,000 for the study should be discussed in public or in executive session.

Although Village Atty. Edward Mraz said he thought it would be legal, the board requested that he check with the state attorney general`s office to find out whether a closed meeting would be a violation of the Open Meetings Act. Depending on that decision, the Village Board agreed to meet on the matter again in a special meeting on Monday.

Village President John Stark suggested that it would be improper, and probably illegal, to discuss the matter in executive session.

Trustee Gary Swicki said he believes the public should ``know how we plan to spend their money.``

Village Manager Valerie Salmons estimated that the village has already spent $275,000 on fighting the balefill.

Trustee Marge Fostiak said an open meeting would expose Bartlett`s strategy to supporters of the proposed balefill. Fostiak also complained that board members were being ``pigheaded`` about the issue.

Trustee Sally Hodge suggested that if Stark thinks a closed meeting is illegal, ``you should not attend.``

Mraz told the board that it could go into executive session because the Open Meetings Act allows executive sessions when a public body is considering ``pending litigation.`` He said the Army Corps of Engineers administrative process is the same as pending litigation. But he said he could not cite case law.

The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County is proposing a balefill in unincorporated Hanover Township at Giford and West Bartlett Roads. The Army Corps of Engineers is expected to come to a decision on whether it is environmentally safe, and a decision is expected in the coming months.